tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30151347149754237002017-08-15T17:34:50.312-07:00Up To the Minute Broadcast WritingA study of modern society, a description of current and past events, how they affect us now, issues that need attention, and reliable research and analysis of events and issues.
Run by my Brother and I
Follow us on Twitter:<a href="https://twitter.com/#!/MisterSolares">Jonathan</a>
and <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/JaySol4">Josue</a>Jonathan Solaresnoreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3015134714975423700.post-67648083243597524582013-02-21T16:26:00.001-08:002013-02-21T16:26:51.121-08:00A Psychodynamic view into the psyche of The Joker from Batman (TAS)<br /><div class="MsoNormal">Before I continue you with this discussion I would like to clear up some things. I am analyzing the character from the original animated series that ran from the 1980’s to the early 2000’s. Also, there is a large misconception is that this character known as “The Joker” is psychotic when in fact he is not psychotic but instead he is actually psychopath. </div><div class="MsoNormal">Being a psychopath is a personality construct and not a mental disorder of which being psychotic is. <br />I will be focusing on what the character does mostly in the movie Batman Beyond: The Return of the Joker.</div><div class="MsoNormal">*Spoilers* </div><div class="MsoNormal">(From only the parts that the real Joker appears in the film)</div><div class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;In the movie he mentally tortures not only Batman but also his adopted son, Tim Drake (Robin). The Joker proceeds to experiment on Tim Drake till he turns him into a copy of himself. He tortures and performs surgeries and chemical processes on Tim Drake to replicate the process that turned himself into a permanent clown. </div><div class="MsoNormal">He proceeds to show Batman a film that shows him doing the process of torturing and experimenting on Tim Drake, laughing while he does it. </div><div class="MsoNormal">He also attempts to finally murder Batman with a knife and when that fails he has the changed Tim Drake (the result of all his experimentation) aim to shoot Batman with a gun. </div><div class="MsoNormal">During this time he displays a sense of happiness and excitement at each new development and even psychoanalyses Batman during the process. He is able to slither his way into a person’s mind and mentally torture them with what they fear and hate most with only his words. He finds excitement and enjoyment in death and attempted murder. </div><div class="MsoNormal">The types of personalities, mental disorders, and mental processes that the Joker displays are the following with the consequencetial reasons why:</div><div class="MsoNormal">Psychopath: The Joker clearly shows a lack of empathy and stress toleancre along with egocentricity, cold-heartedness, manipulativeness, lack of remorse, and even superficial charm. In general psychopaths have a flamboyant flair with how they act and love to manipulate people and have people question themselves and their own integrity for their actions.</div><div class="MsoNormal">Psychopaths:</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">use superficial charm to lure their victims.<span class="apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></span><br /><span style="background: white;">are extremely self-centered.<span class="apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></span><br /><span style="background: white;">must always do something to keep themselves from boredom.<span class="apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></span><br /><span style="background: white;">are very deceptive and tend to lie continuously.<span class="apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></span><br /><span style="background: white;">show no remorse of guilt towards their victims.<span class="apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></span><br /><span style="background: white;">are very predatory and usually will live off other people.<span class="apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></span><br /><span style="background: white;">are very impulsive with their lifestyle.<span class="apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></span> <br /><span style="background: white;">never have a realistic view of their lives. (king of the world or from another planet)</span><br /><span style="background: white;">always want psychological gratification in sexual and criminal activities.<span class="apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal">Schizoid personality disorder: The Joker presents an interesting way of being and thinking that would point toward having a solitary lifestyle and a lack of interest of trying to form a social relationship. He also has a secretiveness also an emotional coldness and apathy about him that would lead someone to assume that he has (SPD).</div><div class="MsoNormal">Sociopath: A sociopath is a person whom is afflicted with a personality disorder along with anti-social behavior who acts on criminal intents. The Joker can easily fit this definition. Sociopaths:</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">are very charming, <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">can be extremely manipulative and will try to con you whenever possible,<span class="apple-converted-space">&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">feel that they are entitled to everything<span class="apple-converted-space">,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">&nbsp;</span></span><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">will lie continuously to get what they want. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">They can even sometimes manipulate a lie detector, have no remorse, shame or guilt, will show love and happiness only when it serves their purpose. None of the feelings are genuine,<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">need to have excitement in their lives or live on the edge<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">have lack of empathy hen their victims suffer pain that they have caused<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">believe that they are all mightier than thou, there is no concern on how their behavior impacts others<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal">From all the descriptions stated, The Joker fits them all in the short time that he actually appears in the movie.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">*Bursts into the room*</div><div class="MsoNormal">MUHAHAHAHHAHAHA</div><div class="MsoNormal">Well, well, well, it seems you have stumbled upon what I sort of am haven’t you? You are trying to read up on why I act the way I act aren’t you?</div><div class="MsoNormal">WELL ARE YOU?!?!?</div><div class="MsoNormal">It doesn’t matter *adjusts his tie* all you really need to know is that I do what I do for the sake of doing it. Well you still want to know don’t you?</div><div class="MsoNormal">You see…in a world such as this where I am the god of chaos and fun you cannot abide by the rules. There are some things that can just push a person past the edge. It does not take much because everyone in their own way is already insane. That is one of the big secrets of the universe did you know? Everybody is insane, some act on it and some don’t, you can see it everyday.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">However, what is sanity my dear reader? Do you consider yourself sane? In a world that controls you and nearly every action is already previously determined are you sane or are you a robot? Are you sentient or are you a mere machine doing a meaningless task day in and day out? I mean there is only so much one person can take, over and over and over and over again and again and again and again until you realize you are already dead.</div><div class="MsoNormal">People work themselves to death for terrible reasons. *pulls out hankerchief and wipes fake tears* It is quite saddening really, but oh what the heck I’ll laugh anyways</div><div class="MsoNormal">“MUAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA”</div><div class="MsoNormal">You see, a person of such greatness and genius such as me is quite difficult and yet easy to understand. I felt like breaking from all the conformity of life and I did so. </div><div class="MsoNormal">When I fell into that chemical vat as a small boy it changed me…wait no, now I am lying to you, you could tell right away that I would never lie to you my dear reader.</div><div class="MsoNormal">When I was horribly scarred after a horrible day work and my wife was sleeping with another man I simply snapped and knew then I could no longer be normal. That is when I realized sanity is like a stick in the wind, sometimes some people get a stronger wind than others and some just SNAP! HAHAHAHAHA or when I was a little boy and my alcoholic father would come and beat me within an inch of my life once a week. Or how about when I was already older and my credit along with my identity stolen by my so called best friend and then he took my college girlfriend and ratted me out to the cops for having stolen a few dollars when no one was looking? I can go on all day, but I think I have proven my point.</div><div class="MsoNormal">Imagine if you took the sanest people and gave them that little push? That extra wind required to snap? That is what I sought to achieve, I am not at all alone in this world, I AM GOD IN THIS WORLD! I control what I want, the world around me does not at all control me. When I saw poor little Timmy Drakey the second little bird boy of my dear Batman, I wanted to truly show him what it was like to live without rules, without the rules that “sanity” abides by. </div><div class="MsoNormal">He was quite strong and even Batman would be proud of him but eventually after all the electric shocks being administered over and over and over and over while showing him images from my special folder while injecting him with the same chemicals that changed me over and over and over again and again and again finally got to him and I was able to free his mind.</div><div class="MsoNormal">You see I did not make him the way he came out, I simply…FREED HIM, HAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div>Jonathan Solareshttps://plus.google.com/114063384081761230637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3015134714975423700.post-10239713401276640162012-07-19T03:11:00.004-07:002012-07-19T03:11:53.535-07:00What is their purpose?Hello :D<br /><div>&nbsp;My name is Shu. I'm Japanese. I'll post the article mainly in Japanese. And sorry for my poor English :)</div><div><br /></div><div> 今日は「日本の政治家達の目的は何なのか」と疑問に思ってしまった事について簡単に書きます。先日、日本では「消費税の増税」が話題になりました。日本の民主党は2009年に「増税反対」などを掲げて初めて与党になりました。しかし、財政が厳しいので、消費税を上げるという閣議決定がなされたのです。当然、民主党は嘘をついて与党になったと批判されました。特に、2009年まで与党であった、今の最大野党である自民党は民主党を激しく批判し、増税には反対的でした。しかし、自民党は2009年の選挙の際、<span style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;">manifesto</span><span style="background-color: white;">として「消費税増税」を掲げていたのです。</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"> もちろん、民主党は与党になったからには2009年の選挙の時に言ったことを守るべきです。国民の過半数が民主党を信じ投票したのですから、約束を破ると言うのは国民に対する裏切り行為だと思います。しかし、自民党は自民党で、どこを向いて政治をしているのか分かりません。民主党批判に躍起になっています。これらの結果により、最新の世論調査では「支持政党なし」が70%を超える事態となりました。多くの日本国民には、支持をしたいと思える政党がないのです。政治家として、己のためではなく日本の為に頑張って欲しいです。</span><br /><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br />&nbsp;Consumption tax increase policy was gotten into the news in Japan.Democratic Party of Japan became the government party in 2009 by fascinating manifests.And they said ‘we oppose a tax increase!’But now,they are planning a consumption tax increase.Of course they were&nbsp;criticized.Especially&nbsp;Liberal Democratic Party,a former&nbsp;<span style="background-color: white;">government party in Japan,criticized so hard.But I remember&nbsp;</span><span style="background-color: white;">Liberal Democratic Party said ‘we should increase taxes and we will!’in 2009.</span><br /><span style="background-color: white;">&nbsp;I thought both parties are not good.</span><span style="background-color: white;">Democratic Party of Japan betrayed voters.And&nbsp;</span><span style="background-color: white;">Liberal Democratic Party is ... I can't understand they work for who.</span><span style="background-color: white;">Democratic Party of Japan is a liar,and&nbsp;</span><span style="background-color: white;">Liberal Democratic Party is just keeping criticize,don't work for a nation.As a result,</span><br /><span style="background-color: white;">we don't have any parties which we want to vote.According to the newest&nbsp;</span><span style="background-color: white;">opinion survey,‘we don't support any parties.’ is over 70%.P</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 16px;">oliticians,p</span><span style="background-color: white;">lease work more FOR JAPAN.</span><br /><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br /><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EEINg2bM6sU/UAfaeLyAt2I/AAAAAAAAAJA/HxA2TOMfmao/s1600/IMG_0106.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EEINg2bM6sU/UAfaeLyAt2I/AAAAAAAAAJA/HxA2TOMfmao/s320/IMG_0106.JPG" width="239" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I went&nbsp;<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gion_Matsuri" target="_blank">Gion Matsuri(祇園祭)</a>&nbsp;! This is one of the biggest festivals in Japan.</div><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>Shu Itohttps://plus.google.com/106779883763636886967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3015134714975423700.post-74645448111285338762012-07-18T12:46:00.001-07:002012-07-18T12:46:14.567-07:00Racism In the World English version<br /><div class="MsoNormal"><br /><div class="MsoNormal">Racism:</div><div class="MsoNormal">An issue that has boggled a many few of this generation of young people, but it is an issue of debate and sadly still apparent in our time period. Quite appalling is what it is, to see such an outdated principle still practiced in our modern society. The amount of power that comes with being proud of your race and feeling the need to belittle other races was most apparent at the recent UEFA Euro 2012 where FOUR Countries were fined for the racist activities of their fans.</div><div class="MsoNormal">It is saddening that many people of our supposedly “modern” society still have feelings of discrimination and racism is still widely spread. Shouldn’t we as one of the only known species in our solar system have a mutual respect for each other knowing we are all human and there is nothing we cannot do when we work together for a common cause?</div><div class="MsoNormal">Together we can accomplish anything, divided we have wars, poverty and death. Racism and pride of one’s race has been one of the greatest fuels for wars in the past: The American Civil war, World War One (The Great War) [the Ottoman Empire was the biggest culprit], World War Two, ETC. Countries such as Bulgaria, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, and Spain have many deep rooted histories of racism in which some are still very apparent till today.</div><div class="MsoNormal">Something drastic has to be done soon to combat this ideal and idea that one race is superior than another, for the sake of the future generations, for the sake of the world, and for the sake of peace.</div></div>Jonathan Solareshttps://plus.google.com/114063384081761230637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3015134714975423700.post-37206822149572263922012-07-16T12:03:00.002-07:002012-07-16T12:03:26.028-07:00Rassismus in der Welt<br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="DE">Rassismus:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="DE">Entschuldigen Sie mein Deutsch nicht für die war.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="DE">Ein Thema, das hat viele boggled eine paar dieser Generation von jungen Menschen, aber es ist eine Frage der Debatte und leider immer noch in unserer Zeit deutlich. Ziemlich erschreckend ist, was es ist, um zu sehen, wie eine veraltete Prinzip immer noch in unserer modernen Gesellschaft praktiziert. Die Höhe der Leistung, die mit Stolz auf Ihr Rennen und das Bedürfnis, anderen Rassen herabzusetzen kommt war am deutlichsten bei der jüngsten UEFA Euro 2012 im Vier-Länder für die rassistischen Aktivitäten ihrer Fans bestraft wurden.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="DE">Es ist traurig, dass viele Menschen unserer vermeintlich "modernen" Gesellschaft immer noch Gefühle von Diskriminierung und Rassismus ist immer noch weit verbreitet. Sollten wir nicht als eine der wenigen bekannten Arten in unserem Sonnensystem haben einen gegenseitigen Respekt für einander zu wissen, wir sind alle Menschen und es gibt nichts, was wir nicht tun können, wenn wir zusammen für eine gemeinsame Sache arbeiten?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="DE">Zusammen können wir alles erreichen, teilten wir haben Krieg, Armut und Tod. Rassismus und Stolz der eigenen Rasse ist eine der größten Kraftstoffe für Kriege in der Vergangenheit: Der amerikanische Bürgerkrieg, dem Ersten Weltkrieg (The Great War) [das Osmanische Reich war der größte Übeltäter], Zweiter Weltkrieg, ETC. Länder wie Bulgarien, Zypern, Dänemark, Finnland, Frankreich, Deutschland, Irland und Spanien haben viele tief verwurzelte Geschichte des Rassismus in der einige sind immer noch sehr offensichtlich bis heute.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="DE">Etwas drastischer muss bald fertig sein und diese ideale Vorstellung, dass eine Rasse überlegen ist als ein anderes zu bekämpfen, im Interesse der zukünftigen Generationen, im Interesse der Welt, und im Interesse des Friedens.<o:p></o:p></span></div>Jonathan Solareshttps://plus.google.com/114063384081761230637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3015134714975423700.post-55934926816046464952012-07-06T10:35:00.000-07:002012-07-06T10:35:21.066-07:00Currently ResearchingI am currently researching Influential people today and their origins and will make a very large post soon on this Journalist type blog about it. It will be very informative and will present the issues that these people have influenced and directly affected and the what if they had not gotten involved what would have happen.Jonathan Solareshttps://plus.google.com/114063384081761230637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3015134714975423700.post-33638360237475330642012-06-20T14:53:00.002-07:002012-06-20T14:53:28.322-07:00Why are Blood Transfusions so Complicated?<br /><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Why are Blood Transfusions so complicated?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /><!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br /><!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">A <b>Blood Transfusion</b> is a preferred choice of treatment by many doctors to replace a major blood loss from a multitude of causes. The actually procedure is actually very simple; an intravenous line is inserted into one of your blood vessels and the blood is slowly run into your body.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">A <b>Blood Transfusion</b> treatment method is commonly used during major surgeries; if you have an illness that causes heavy bleeding and leads to a loss of, or destruction of blood cells, and/or when there has been a significant loss of blood.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Though it sounds simple enough, there are complications every 1 in 14,000 in the United States alone. If the population of USA is 311,600,000 that means that if the entire country would to get a blood transfusion that 22, 257 would have complications and most probably they would be contagious or venereal disease that would spread. Of the possible complications that may arise the following are the most common:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Allergic reactions most commonly from a histemic reaction from the plasma &nbsp;in the donated blood.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Febrile reactions have symptoms of a sudden fever, headache, nausea and chills.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Transfusion-related Acute lung injury happens in 1 of every 5,000 transfusions.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Acute immune hemolytic reaction is when the donor and patient blood types do not match and the antibodies attack the “invading” blood cells and cause the blood cells to break open and disperse hazardous materials from the cell into the blood stream. This can cause Chest and lower back pain, fever, chills, and nausea and in some cases DEATH!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Delayed hemolytic reaction, the kidneys are affected by the drop in red blood cell count due to the body rejecting the transfused blood.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Various types of infections such as Hepatitis B and C, Human&nbsp; immunodeficiency virus (HIV), syphilis, HTLV-I, and HTVL-II, even the West Nile virus.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Why are there so many complications and errors present when transfusing blood? <o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Well the fact that the blood must be donated in large amounts from a large pool of people that possibly do not know if they have a virus or a venereal disease and then the blood is tested with some old and some new methods but they are not always so easy. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">How complicated is it to get the right blood to the right person?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">I believe that TV Tropes puts it quite simple as to why it is so complicated and these things take time to do and must be meticulously researched.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">“In the early twentieth century, red blood cells were first given the most common classifications: O, A, B and AB. Three decades later the Rhesus factor was also discovered, marking any blood as RH positive (+) or RH negative (-), and woe to you if you get a transfusion of the wrong RH. (Only applicable if the receiver is RH negative. In RH- blood there is no antigen for the RH+ body to recognize and fight, whereas the RH- body will attack RH+ blood.) Now, O red cells can be given to anyone, and AB can receive any type of red blood cells. So a really rare blood type for receiving a red cell donation would be O- (because the only type they can tolerate is another O-), B-, then A- (B- is the rarest of the three, but can tolerate the more common O-, as can A-).<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">With plasma, it's the other way around. The plasma of group O people contains antibodies to both A and B blood group substances, which is why they have a reaction if they receive those types. So giving O plasma to an A patient may result in a minor reaction as the donated antibodies attack the recipient's cells. AB plasma has neither antibody, so it can be given to anyone.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">"âtroperville."&nbsp;<i>AB Negative</i>. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 June 2012. &lt;http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/ABNegative&gt;.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-size: 13.5pt;">"Blood Transfusion-Overview."<span class="apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></span><i>WebMD</i>. WebMD, n.d. Web. 20 June 2012. &lt;http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/blood-transfusion-overview&gt;.<o:p></o:p></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-size: 13.5pt;">"Possible Risks of Blood Transfusions."<span class="apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></span><i>Possible Risks of Blood Transfusions</i>. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 June 2012. &lt;http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/TreatmentTypes/BloodProductDonationandTransfusion/blood-product-donation-and-transfusion-possible-transfusion-risks&gt;.<o:p></o:p></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-size: 13.5pt;">"What Is a Blood Transfusion?"<span class="apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></span><i>- NHLBI, NIH</i>. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 June 2012. &lt;http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/bt/&gt;.<o:p></o:p></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-size: 13.5pt;">"Complications of Blood Transfusion."<span class="apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></span><i>Transfusion Medicine |</i>. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 June 2012. &lt;http://www.transfusionmedicine.ca/resources/books/vein-vein/complications-blood-transfusion&gt;.<o:p></o:p></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-size: 13.5pt;">"BJA: CEACCP."<span class="apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></span><i>Complications of Blood Transfusion</i>. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 June 2012. &lt;http://ceaccp.oxfordjournals.org/content/6/6/225.full&gt;.<o:p></o:p></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-size: 13.5pt;">"Population in the U.S.-Google Public Data Explorer."<span class="apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></span><i>Population in the U.S.-Google Public Data Explorer</i>. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 June 2012. &lt;http://www.google.com/publicdata/explore?ds=kf7tgg1uo9ude_&gt;.<o:p></o:p></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><br /></div>Jonathan Solareshttps://plus.google.com/114063384081761230637noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3015134714975423700.post-83847851322587074812012-06-16T00:14:00.000-07:002012-06-16T00:27:41.262-07:00Important Dates from History to Remember<br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Some Important Dates of history to remember and 5 of which are explained why they are so important.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;">1455: Johannes Gutenberg prints the first book, the Bible. This leads to mass production of books. Around the year 1500, there were more than 1000 printers all around Europe. This led to an exposure of knowledge. This also led to seeking of knowledge and scholarly research.</span></b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: #002060; line-height: 115%;">1505: Regarded as one of the Masters of the Renaissance Leonardo da Vinci paints The Mona Lisa.</span></b><span style="color: #4f81bd; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: #4f81bd; line-height: 115%;">1517: On October 31, 1517 Martin Luther presented a list called the 95 Theses that was an objection to the Church’s practice of indulgences.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: green; line-height: 115%;">1518: A Spanish ship carrying the first boat full of African slaves travels to the Americas. This led to a surge of slave trade that would last for over 2 centuries.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: #8064a2; line-height: 115%;">1521: Due to the Church not being able to accept Martin Luther’s ideas they decided to excommunicate him in January of 1521. This leads Luther on to create Lutheranism and be successful due to having the support of many German rulers and numerous states of the Holy Roman Empire.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: #403152; line-height: 115%;">1603: Queen Elizabeth the First dies.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: #f79646; line-height: 115%;">1618: The Thirty Years’ War begins.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: #984806; line-height: 115%;">1642: A Civil war in England begins. This is considered the English Revolution.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: red; line-height: 115%;">1648: The Thirty Years’ War ends.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: #c00000; line-height: 115%;">1689: Peter the Great becomes the Russian Czar. This leads to a conquest going west and later a westernization of Russia.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;">1775: The American Revolution begins. This leads to the creation of the country The United States of America.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;">An in Depth description of 5 significant events from history<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;">1. 1455: In this year a man by the name Johannes Gutenberg printed a book for the first time ever. This first printed book was the Bible. This innovation led to many printers being built around Europe. With all these printers built, the spread of knowledge was rapid. This led to many more people becoming more educated than before, leading to a period when knowledge was accessible and steadily available. By the year 1500 the amount of printers in Europe was more than 1000. This opened the door to seekers of knowledge and scholarly research. Due to this more denominations were allowed to spread around the world and there was slightly less oppression from the Catholics of the time period.&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span><br /><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span><br /><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;">2. 1505: In this Year an artist by the name of Leonardo Da Vinci painted the Mona Lisa. This Painting had a great impact in the arts from then on to modern times. This impact was felt so greatly for the following reasons. The Mona Lisa was a break from most of the traditional style of paintings at the time which were full body. The pose of the painting that Leonardo introduced was unknown at the time and was copied almost immediately. The waist up style was famously copied by another artist of the time Raphael. The realism of the painting also showed his mastery of his craft making others want to imitate him causing an increase in painters and sculptures of the time. Leonardo’s style of realism has been imitated many times since some even claim their own work as his. Even now people still admire him and his artwork for its impact during the renaissance. <o:p></o:p></span><br /><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span><br /><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;">3. 1521: For many years the monk and professor by the name Martin Luther had been trying to make changes in the church and how they viewed things. After presenting The Ninety-five Theses and moving toward breaking away from the church he was excommunicated. This was due to not being able to accept Martin Luther’s at the time radical ideas. These series of events that led Martin Luther to being excommunicated also led him to eventually begin the Lutheranism movement which also led eventually to the Protestant religion. <o:p></o:p></span><br /><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span><br /><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;">4. 1689: This is the year Peter the Great became the Russian Czar. With this occurrence came a change in the lifestyle of the Russians. With becoming the Czar Peter the Great like those before him had an absolute monarchy claiming the divine right to rule. Peter the Great would become known as such after many accomplishments. After a trip to the west and returning to westernize Russia, and reorganized the military power. He also left a great legacy, creating the first Russian Navy, dividing Russia into Provinces conquering a great portion of the east, and westernized Russia. His rule would have an impact that would affect for years to come.<o:p></o:p></span><br /><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span><br /><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;">5. 1775: The American Revolution begins. This is the first resistance to the English government. Eventually due to the Napoleonic wars, Great Britian has to move its troops from North America back to Great Britian to fight against the French Forces eventually allowing United States to become an independent nation.<span style="font-size: 9pt; font-weight: bold;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>Jonathan Solareshttps://plus.google.com/114063384081761230637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3015134714975423700.post-48727395628945465272012-06-14T20:41:00.001-07:002012-06-14T20:45:09.835-07:00A Study of our Modern World and how both Huxley's and Orwell's predictions became FACT<br /><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; line-height: 16.85pt; margin: 4.8pt 0in 6pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 16pt;">A study of 1984 and Brave New World<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; line-height: 16.85pt; margin: 4.8pt 0in 6pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 16pt;">And our modern society<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; line-height: 16.85pt; margin: 4.8pt 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Both of these Novels Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell and Aldus Huxley’s Brave New World convey a highly plausible future. However many people argue about which is the better representation or which will be the one that is most likely to come true. How about I present a new theory, what if both are right and we are living the type of society today presented by each, just not in the way we imagine it.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; line-height: 16.85pt; margin: 4.8pt 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Social critic&nbsp;<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neil_Postman" title="Neil Postman"><span style="color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;">Neil Postman</span></a>&nbsp;contrasts the worlds of&nbsp;<i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nineteen_Eighty-Four" title="Nineteen Eighty-Four"><span style="color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;">Nineteen Eighty-Four</span></a></i>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<i>Brave New World</i>&nbsp;in the foreword of his 1985 book&nbsp;<i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amusing_Ourselves_to_Death" title="Amusing Ourselves to Death"><span style="color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;">Amusing Ourselves to Death</span></a></i>. He writes:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoTableGrid" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none;"><tbody><tr><td style="border: 1pt solid windowtext; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 239.4pt;" valign="top" width="319"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">What Orwell feared were those who would ban books.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td><td style="border: 1pt solid windowtext; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 239.4pt;" valign="top" width="319"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">What Huxley feared was that there would be no reason to ban a book, for there would be no one who wanted to read one.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td></tr><tr><td style="border: 1pt solid windowtext; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 239.4pt;" valign="top" width="319"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Orwell feared those who would deprive us of information.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 239.4pt;" valign="top" width="319"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Huxley feared those who would give us so much that we would be reduced to passivity and egotism.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td></tr><tr><td style="border: 1pt solid windowtext; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 239.4pt;" valign="top" width="319"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Orwell feared that the truth would be concealed from us.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 239.4pt;" valign="top" width="319"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Huxley feared the truth would be drowned in a sea of irrelevance.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td></tr><tr><td style="border: 1pt solid windowtext; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 239.4pt;" valign="top" width="319"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Orwell feared we would become a captive culture.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 239.4pt;" valign="top" width="319"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Huxley feared we would become a trivial culture, preoccupied with some equivalent of the feelies, the orgy porgy, and the centrifugal bumblepuppy.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" style="border: 1pt solid windowtext; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.65in;" valign="top" width="638"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">As Huxley remarked in&nbsp;<i>Brave New World Revisited,</i>&nbsp;the civil libertarians and rationalists who are ever on the alert to oppose tyranny "failed to take into account man's almost infinite appetite for distractions."</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td></tr><tr><td style="border: 1pt solid windowtext; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 239.4pt;" valign="top" width="319"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">In&nbsp;<i>1984</i>, Orwell added, people are controlled by inflicting pain.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 239.4pt;" valign="top" width="319"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">In&nbsp;<i>Brave New World,</i>&nbsp;they are controlled by inflicting pleasure.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td></tr><tr><td style="border: 1pt solid windowtext; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 239.4pt;" valign="top" width="319"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">In short, Orwell feared that what we fear will ruin us.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 239.4pt;" valign="top" width="319"><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: 16.85pt; margin-bottom: 5pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Huxley feared that our desire will ruin us.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><strong><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">“Stuart McMillen’s</span></strong><span class="apple-converted-space"><b><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">&nbsp;</span></b></span><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">webcomic does a marvelous job of adapting (and updating!)&nbsp;<strong><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Neil Postman’s</span></strong><span class="apple-converted-space"><b>&nbsp;</b></span>famous book-length essay,<span class="apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><strong><i><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Amusing Ourselves to Death</span></i></strong>, which argues that<span class="apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><strong><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Aldous Huxley’s</span></strong><span class="apple-converted-space">&nbsp;vision of the future in<span class="apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></span><em><b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Brave New World</span></b></em><span class="apple-converted-space">&nbsp;was ultimately more accurate than the one proposed by<span class="apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></span><strong><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">George Orwell</span></strong><span class="apple-converted-space">&nbsp;in<span class="apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></span><strong><i><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">1984</span></i></strong>.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">View the simplified web comic below</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xEQzwqjzuWY/T9quebS9qSI/AAAAAAAAAEg/eCvqMbPwsPI/s1600/huxley-orwell-amusing-ourselves-to-death.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xEQzwqjzuWY/T9quebS9qSI/AAAAAAAAAEg/eCvqMbPwsPI/s1600/huxley-orwell-amusing-ourselves-to-death.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">We live in a society that exemplifies both of these predictions are correct. We live in a modern world that contains both of these predictions separately yet together. Countries such as The United States of America, England, Australia, Japan and France currently exemplify almost exactly (only some technologies are not yet created) the world depicted by Huxley in that these societies of these countries are run by our love of desires and hedonistic leanings. The Entertainment industry along with most of the news industries revolve around the fact that people do not want to see what is really happening and only want pleasure and happiness. This gives way for shows that praise stupidity, egotism, cruelty, and greed in a good light. The news has also become desensitizing due to a blasting of advertisements and quick successions of various types of news stories such as switching from a story of genocide to a new type of baby formula for better brain growth to then switching to a cure for cancer and again switching to a long and unnecessary news report about a celebrity fashion gaff. There is so much blasting of information and at such a large disposal that the people do not even need to try to remember facts or figures to advance in life. This has led to an uncaring society in which the people no longer care to read books leading to not needing to ban certain books as a large majority of the populace has no more interest. Huxley would have surely seen his vision of the future become true almost perfectly exemplified by the satirical and sadly true web comic above.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">Then there are countries of which exemplify the world that Orwell feared would come to pass, countries such as Burma (now Myanmar), North Korea, North Vietnam, to an extent China, Iran, Somalia, Uganda and Syria. These countries almost perfectly resemble the totalitarian rule of power demonstrated by Orwell’s vision. They each have banned many books and have the media censored to where everything is mis-information to mislead the people into believing that their nation is doing great and nothing is wrong when the exact opposite is happening. There is all out oppression and great distinction of classes, sexism, racism, and little to no freedom of religion. The people have turned to a state of fear of which they even are careful of what they think in order to avoid being taken or killed for even thoughts of the need for change.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">Though very sad both visions of the future presented independently by Huxley and Orwell have come to pass each in their own way in various parts of the modern world, influencing the societies around it. The modern world in which we live in is truly a “Brave New 1984” in which we are both being ruined by what we fear and what we desire. Our world is run by our fears and our desires.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">Sources:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">"Biblioklept."<span class="apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></span><i>Biblioklept</i>. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 June 2012. &lt;http://biblioklept.org/2010/12/14/huxley-vs-orwell-the-webcomic/&gt;.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">Amusing Ourselves to Death: Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business (1985) by Neil Postman<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">Brave New World by Aldous Huxley published in 1931<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell published in 1949<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /></div>Jonathan Solareshttps://plus.google.com/114063384081761230637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3015134714975423700.post-6259149597292637992012-06-11T23:24:00.002-07:002012-06-11T23:28:46.206-07:00The Issue of the TSA<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"><b>An Observation of the TSA</b></span></span></div><strong style="border: none; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">Statistics On Airport Screening From The Department Of Homeland Security</strong><span style="background-color: #f0f0f0; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"></span><br /><div style="border: none; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">Terrorists Discovered: 0<br />Transvestites: 133<br />Hernias: 1,485<br />Hemorrhoid Cases: 3,172<br />Enlarged Prostates: 8,249<br />Breast Implants: 59,350<br />Natural Blondes: 3</div><div style="border: none; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">New countermeasures against terrorists are needed instead of the current TSA rules of which are not even published. This&nbsp;agency is allowed to pat down and screen children under 13 and even babies with broken limbs or disabilities unjustly without a permit or right just because they call them selves TSA.</span></span></div><div style="border: none; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">Looking back at the Statistics on Airport Screening from the Department of Homeland Security the effectiveness of this agency is 0% they either need better types of non-invasive forms of&nbsp;terrorist detection or a&nbsp;completely&nbsp;new type of organisation actually trained to know what to look for.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span></div><div style="border: none; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">Sources</span></span></div><div style="border: none; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 32px; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: -48px;">Elliott, Christopher. "Is The TSA A Joke? (VIDEO)."&nbsp;</span><i style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 32px; margin: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: -48px;">The Huffington Post</i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 32px; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: -48px;">. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 11 June 2012. Web. 12 June 2012. &lt;http://www.huffingtonpost.com/christopher-elliott/is-the-tsa-a-joke-video_b_1584837.html?ncid=edlinkusaolp00000003&gt;.</span></div><div style="border: none; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 32px; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: -48px;">"TSA | Transportation Security Administration | U.S. Department of Homeland Security."&nbsp;</span><i style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 32px; margin: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: -48px;">TSA | Transportation Security Administration | U.S. Department of Homeland Security</i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 32px; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: -48px;">. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 June 2012. &lt;http://www.tsa.gov/&gt;.</span></div><div style="border: none; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 32px; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: -48px;">"Government âTheyâre Harassing Peopleâ: Family Misses Flight After TSA Comes to Gate to Rescreen Girl With Palsy."&nbsp;</span><i style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 32px; margin: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: -48px;">The Blaze</i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 32px; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: -48px;">. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 June 2012. &lt;http://www.theblaze.com/stories/theyre-harassing-people-family-misses-flight-after-tsa-comes-to-gate-to-rescreen-girl-with-palsy/&gt;.</span></div><div style="border: none; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 32px; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: -48px;">"The TSA Strikes Again: Now They Are Harassing A Child With A Broken Leg."&nbsp;</span><i style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 32px; margin: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: -48px;">Business Insider</i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 32px; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: -48px;">. N.p., 18 Mar. 2012. Web. 12 June 2012. &lt;http://articles.businessinsider.com/2012-03-18/politics/31206473_1_tsa-agents-body-cast-o-hare&gt;.</span></div><div style="border: none; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 32px; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: -48px;"><br /></span></div>Jonathan Solareshttps://plus.google.com/114063384081761230637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3015134714975423700.post-22017773290319836502012-06-10T15:10:00.000-07:002012-06-10T15:16:30.918-07:00Greek Economic Crisis<br /><div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">INTRODUCTION</span></span></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;"><br /></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">In this Macro-Economic Research Paper four topics will be analyzed that have to deal with the country of Greece. These topics include the debt that Greece accumulated beginning with its acceptance of the Euro. Upon accumulating this large sum of debt it affected its price stability by lowering its exporting of goods and increasing its importing of goods. The large debt affected employment in the country of Greece and its growth opportunities. </span></span></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;"><br /></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Two arguments will be presented. One will be against the practices that led to the over-indebtedness of Greece. The other will be for the solutions that have been presented to the government of Greece by IMF to solve the problem. </span></span></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;"><br /></div><div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">THESIS</span></span></div><div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;"><br /></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Greece is an important aspect to the world economy and because of its small size their borrowing spree and government debt burst at <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">€</span>360 billion which was borrowed from various European banks that contributed to the European sovereign debt crisis.</span></span></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;"><br /></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">The adverse macro-Impacts of Greece's over-indebtedness upon its price stability, employment, and growth function between the years 2007 through 2012 contributed to the European sovereign debt crisis. </span></span></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;"><br /></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">During 2007 Greece had an annual growth rate of 4.2 percent. It was one of the most rapid growing economies in Europe. Greece had only recently adopted the Euro as its means of currency in 2002. However their government gross debt was not far behind at 95.6 percent of its GDP which was at $264.942 billion.</span></span></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;"><br /></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;"><br /></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">The following is a list of lenders and the amount that was loaned to Greece in billions:</span></span></div><table border="1" bordercolor="#000000" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" rules="ROWS" style="width: 665px;"> <colgroup><col width="213"></col> <col width="214"></col> <col width="213"></col> </colgroup><tbody><tr valign="TOP"> <td width="213"><div align="CENTER" class="western" style="orphans: 0; widows: 0;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">BANK</span></span></div></td> <td width="214"><div align="CENTER" class="western" style="orphans: 0; widows: 0;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">COUNTRY</span></span></div></td> <td width="213"><div align="CENTER" class="western" style="orphans: 0; widows: 0;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">AMOUNT</span></span></div></td> </tr><tr valign="TOP"> <td width="213"><div align="CENTER" class="western" style="orphans: 0; widows: 0;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">CNP Assurances </span></span> </div></td> <td width="214"><div align="CENTER" class="western" style="orphans: 0; widows: 0;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">FRANCE</span></span></div></td> <td width="213"><div align="CENTER" class="western" style="orphans: 0; widows: 0;"><span style="color: black;">€<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">2.0</span></span></span></span></div></td> </tr><tr valign="TOP"> <td width="213"><div align="CENTER" class="western" style="orphans: 0; widows: 0;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Groupama </span></span> </div></td> <td width="214"><div align="CENTER" class="western" style="orphans: 0; widows: 0;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">FRANCE</span></span></div></td> <td width="213"><div align="CENTER" class="western" style="orphans: 0; widows: 0;"><span style="color: black;">€<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">2.0</span></span></span></span></div></td> </tr><tr valign="TOP"> <td width="213"><div align="CENTER" class="western" style="orphans: 0; widows: 0;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Marfin Investment Group </span></span> </div></td> <td width="214"><div align="CENTER" class="western" style="orphans: 0; widows: 0;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">GREECE</span></span></div></td> <td width="213"><div align="CENTER" class="western" style="orphans: 0; widows: 0;"><span style="color: black;">€<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">2.3</span></span></span></span></div></td> </tr><tr valign="TOP"> <td width="213"><div align="CENTER" class="western" style="orphans: 0; widows: 0;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Socite Generale </span></span> </div></td> <td width="214"><div align="CENTER" class="western" style="orphans: 0; widows: 0;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">FRANCE</span></span></div></td> <td width="213"><div align="CENTER" class="western" style="orphans: 0; widows: 0;"><span style="color: black;">€<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">2.9</span></span></span></span></div></td> </tr><tr valign="TOP"> <td width="213"><div align="CENTER" class="western" style="orphans: 0; widows: 0;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Commerzbank</span></span></div></td> <td width="214"><div align="CENTER" class="western" style="orphans: 0; widows: 0;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">GERMANY</span></span></div></td> <td width="213"><div align="CENTER" class="western" style="orphans: 0; widows: 0;"><span style="color: black;">€<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">2.9</span></span></span></span></div></td> </tr><tr valign="TOP"> <td width="213"><div align="CENTER" class="western" style="orphans: 0; widows: 0;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Generali</span></span></div></td> <td width="214"><div align="CENTER" class="western" style="orphans: 0; widows: 0;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">ITALY</span></span></div></td> <td width="213"><div align="CENTER" class="western" style="orphans: 0; widows: 0;"><span style="color: black;">€<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">3.0</span></span></span></span></div></td> </tr><tr valign="TOP"> <td width="213"><div align="CENTER" class="western" style="orphans: 0; widows: 0;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Alpha Bank</span></span></div></td> <td width="214"><div align="CENTER" class="western" style="orphans: 0; widows: 0;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">GREECE</span></span></div></td> <td width="213"><div align="CENTER" class="western" style="orphans: 0; widows: 0;"><span style="color: black;">€<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">3.7</span></span></span></span></div></td> </tr><tr valign="TOP"> <td width="213"><div align="CENTER" class="western" style="orphans: 0; widows: 0;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">ATE bank Deutsche Bank</span></span></div></td> <td width="214"><div align="CENTER" class="western" style="orphans: 0; widows: 0;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">GREECE</span></span></div></td> <td width="213"><div align="CENTER" class="western" style="orphans: 0; widows: 0;"><span style="color: black;">€<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">4.6</span></span></span></span></div></td> </tr><tr valign="TOP"> <td width="213"><div align="CENTER" class="western" style="orphans: 0; widows: 0;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">BNP Paribas</span></span></div></td> <td width="214"><div align="CENTER" class="western" style="orphans: 0; widows: 0;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">FRANCE</span></span></div></td> <td width="213"><div align="CENTER" class="western" style="orphans: 0; widows: 0;"><span style="color: black;">€<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">5.0</span></span></span></span></div></td> </tr><tr valign="TOP"> <td width="213"><div align="CENTER" class="western" style="orphans: 0; widows: 0;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Bank of Greece</span></span></div></td> <td width="214"><div align="CENTER" class="western" style="orphans: 0; widows: 0;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">GREECE</span></span></div></td> <td width="213"><div align="CENTER" class="western" style="orphans: 0; widows: 0;"><span style="color: black;">€<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">6.0</span></span></span></span></div></td> </tr><tr valign="TOP"> <td width="213"><div align="CENTER" class="western" style="orphans: 0; widows: 0;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">FMS Wertmanagement</span></span></div></td> <td width="214"><div align="CENTER" class="western" style="orphans: 0; widows: 0;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">GERMANY</span></span></div></td> <td width="213"><div align="CENTER" class="western" style="orphans: 0; widows: 0;"><span style="color: black;">€<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">6.3</span></span></span></span></div></td> </tr><tr valign="TOP"> <td width="213"><div align="CENTER" class="western" style="orphans: 0; widows: 0;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Piraeus Bank</span></span></div></td> <td width="214"><div align="CENTER" class="western" style="orphans: 0; widows: 0;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">GREECE</span></span></div></td> <td width="213"><div align="CENTER" class="western" style="orphans: 0; widows: 0;"><span style="color: black;">€<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">8.0</span></span></span></span></div></td> </tr><tr valign="TOP"> <td width="213"><div align="CENTER" class="western" style="orphans: 0; widows: 0;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Eurobank EFG</span></span></div></td> <td width="214"><div align="CENTER" class="western" style="orphans: 0; widows: 0;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">GREECE</span></span></div></td> <td width="213"><div align="CENTER" class="western" style="orphans: 0; widows: 0;"><span style="color: black;">€<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">9.0</span></span></span></span></div></td> </tr><tr valign="TOP"> <td width="213"><div align="CENTER" class="western" style="orphans: 0; widows: 0;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">European National Central Banks</span></span></div></td> <td width="214"><div align="CENTER" class="western" style="orphans: 0; widows: 0;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">EUROPE</span></span></div></td> <td width="213"><div align="CENTER" class="western" style="orphans: 0; widows: 0;"><span style="color: black;">€<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">13.1</span></span></span></span></div></td> </tr><tr valign="TOP"> <td width="213"><div align="CENTER" class="western" style="orphans: 0; widows: 0;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">National Bank of Greece</span></span></div></td> <td width="214"><div align="CENTER" class="western" style="orphans: 0; widows: 0;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">GREECE</span></span></div></td> <td width="213"><div align="CENTER" class="western" style="orphans: 0; widows: 0;"><span style="color: black;">€<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">18.6</span></span></span></span></div></td> </tr><tr valign="TOP"> <td width="213"><div align="CENTER" class="western" style="orphans: 0; widows: 0;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">IMF</span></span></div></td> <td width="214"><div align="CENTER" class="western" style="orphans: 0; widows: 0;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">EUROPE</span></span></div></td> <td width="213"><div align="CENTER" class="western" style="orphans: 0; widows: 0;"><span style="color: black;">€<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">15.0</span></span></span></span></div></td> </tr><tr valign="TOP"> <td width="213"><div align="CENTER" class="western" style="orphans: 0; widows: 0;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">World Government</span></span></div></td> <td width="214"><div align="CENTER" class="western" style="orphans: 0; widows: 0;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">EARTH</span></span></div></td> <td width="213"><div align="CENTER" class="western" style="orphans: 0; widows: 0;"><span style="color: black;">€<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">25.0</span></span></span></span></div></td> </tr><tr valign="TOP"> <td width="213"><div align="CENTER" class="western" style="orphans: 0; widows: 0;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Greek Public Sector</span></span></div></td> <td width="214"><div align="CENTER" class="western" style="orphans: 0; widows: 0;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">GREECE</span></span></div></td> <td width="213"><div align="CENTER" class="western" style="orphans: 0; widows: 0;"><span style="color: black;">€<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">30.0</span></span></span></span></div></td> </tr><tr valign="TOP"> <td width="213"><div align="CENTER" class="western" style="orphans: 0; widows: 0;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">European Union</span></span></div></td> <td width="214"><div align="CENTER" class="western" style="orphans: 0; widows: 0;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">EUROPE</span></span></div></td> <td width="213"><div align="CENTER" class="western" style="orphans: 0; widows: 0;"><span style="color: black;">€<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">38.0</span></span></span></span></div></td> </tr><tr valign="TOP"> <td width="213"><div align="CENTER" class="western" style="orphans: 0; widows: 0;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Eurosystem SMP</span></span></div></td> <td width="214"><div align="CENTER" class="western" style="orphans: 0; widows: 0;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">EUROPE</span></span></div></td> <td width="213"><div align="CENTER" class="western" style="orphans: 0; widows: 0;"><span style="color: black;">€<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">45.0</span></span></span></span></div></td> </tr><tr valign="TOP"> <td width="213"><div align="CENTER" class="western" style="orphans: 0; widows: 0;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Various Institutions from around the world</span></span></div></td> <td width="214"><div align="CENTER" class="western" style="orphans: 0; widows: 0;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">EARTH</span></span></div></td> <td width="213"><div align="CENTER" class="western" style="orphans: 0; widows: 0;"><span style="color: black;">€<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">110.9</span></span></span></span></div></td> </tr></tbody></table><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;"><br /></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;"><br /></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">In 2008 the gross domestic product for Greece descended to 2 percent. The recession had begun for Greece in this year as the debt-to-GDP ratio was at 99.2 percent. The average gross domestic product growth had fallen to -3.45 percent by the end of the year. As well as market share value that was traded publicly began to decline from the previous year of $264.942 billion to $90.396 billion which is a decrease of more than 100 percent. Due to this fact the unemployment rates hit 7.7 percent and began to rise.</span></span></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;"><br /></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">In 2009 the gross domestic product had gone to negative 2 percent. The unemployment rate had gone up to 9.4 percent. The public debt-to-GDP ratio had exceeded 100 percent and was now at 126.8 percent. The market value of publicly traded shares had gone down to $54.717 billion. According to Fitch, which is a global rating agency, the ratings on Greek debt had gone from an A rating to a BBB+ rating that had a negative outlook on it.</span></span></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;"><br /></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">To add to the list of woes that led up to this collapse is a unstoppable fact that is hardly spoken of which is corruption. The organization Transparency International calculated that there were a grand total of <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">€ 787 million in bribes in 2009. These bribes were divided via two sectors which were civil servants and private sectors. At fault were the officials who were in office at the time.</span></span></span></span></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;"><br /></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">The reason behind this economic collapse as in part with the officials who were there at the time in to be misreporting on its economic statistics. The economic problems caused lenders to begin charging higher interest rates in order to lend Greece more money. Also began the tax evasion along with the demonstrations against the government's measures to deal with its debt. For the cuts that were implemented were towards the public sector, pensions, reducing benefits and increasing taxes. </span></span></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;"><br /></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Now the question of why is Greece so important in this incident will be answered. It is noted that the economy of Greece is thirty-second in the world. It is also the fifteenth largest economy in the European Union. On top of that its major export is olives. The world is not going to be ruined if olives are not continuously harvested. However the major problem was the fact that the money was borrowed from European banks. This in turn means that Greece owes $500 billion in US dollars. Which is a 160% debt-to-gross domestic product ratio. Greece was unable to pay this large amount of debt and this debt was on the European banks books'. This means that there is now a lack of confidence in the bond markets. Once Greece defaulted it was feared that if it left the European zone it would cause a domino effect. </span></span></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Spending was too high and revenue was far below that spending ratio. Discretionary spending on defense and non-discretionary on medicare and social security are automatic and take precedence. Then the debt service is part of the spending in which the principal amount and the interest needs to be paid. </span></span></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;"><br /></div><div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">ANTI-THESIS</span></span></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;"><br /></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york';">Prime minister George Papandreou outlines policies to cut the country's ballooning budget deficit and try to regain the trust of investors and EU partners. These include a crack down on corruption and reigning-in public spending. Also announces a 90 percent tax on bonuses for senior bankers in the private sector, a ban on bonuses for executives at public sector corporations, and 10 percent cut in civil servants' allowances. At this point the the ratio debt-to-GDP stood at 165.3 percent of the nominal gross domestic product.</span></span></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york';"><span style="font-size: small;">What was Greece prepared to do in order to change their future path of bleak outlooks? They decided to take measures to make a difference and create a more elevated path with a better outlook. The austerity packages would be put into place. An austerity in other words is a way for the government to implement a policy that lowers spending, reduces benefits and the public services provided by the government. Their first austerity was implemented in February of 2010 which included a loan from the International Monetary Fund and the European Central Bank in the amount of </span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">€80 billion. This austerity package ended the salaries of all employment for the government. </span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">The second austerity package was implemented in March of 2010. This month saw the passing of the Economy Protection bill. This bill aimed to save €4.8 billion which cut into Christmas, Easter and the bonuses for leaves of absence. There were even more cuts in bonuses for the public by 12%, 7% in</span></span></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">salaries, and there was a rise of 15% tax on petroleum and an increased tax on imported cars of 20%. </span></span></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">However these austerity packages did find their intended goal. The economic advancement expected by the Greek government did not meet expectations. Due to these failed attempts further measures needed to be taken.</span></span></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div align="LEFT" class="western">The European Union, the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund on May 1 agreed to create an aid program of financial stability that would span three years for Greece with a total of <span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI';">€ </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">110 billion in aid money. During the span of three years this money would be provided to Greece to help pay off their debt. This amount of money was part of a </span><span style="color: black;">€750 billion bailout plan aimed to help the struggling European economies that were in financial trouble.</span></div><div align="LEFT" class="western"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">However at the same time on May 1 2010 t</span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york';">he third austerity package saw the most opposition from Greek citizens. It was a bold move that proposed a very large chain of measures. Some of these measures will be listed:</span></span></div><ul><li><div align="LEFT" class="western"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york';">There would be a cut of 8% on public sector allowances and this was in addition to the previous packages</span></span></div></li><li><div align="LEFT" class="western"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york';">Extraordinary taxes imposed on company profits</span></span></div></li><li><div align="LEFT" class="western"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york';">Public sector limit of </span></span><span style="color: black;">€1000 bonuses abolished for those earning €3000</span></div></li></ul><div align="LEFT" class="western"><span style="color: black;">These measures sparked an outrage from the public with protests and violence as riots erupted over Greece as it was approved in June. </span></div><div align="LEFT" class="western"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Then on May 9, 2010 the European Union and its twenty-seven states created the European Financial Stability Facility, or EFSF for short. This facility has the ability to supply bonds to the market and or other debt instruments. It would achieve this with the help of the German Debt Management Office to raise the necessary funds to provide the loans necessary to bring relief to the euro-zone countries that require assistance, the countries that need to recapitalize banks, and to buy their sovereign debt. This was known as the first rescue package provided by the European Union and the International Monetary Fund and it became active in January of 2011 where it issued its first </span><span style="color: black;">€5 billion five-year bond.</span></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york';">Also during 2010 the International Monetary Fund began to advise the Greek government on applying reforms to their tax policy, controlling budget spending, and tax collection. The aim of the mission is to offer technical assistance so that the government in Greece can address the budget deficit. With this in motion the Greek government showed its cooperation by aiming to bring the deficit down and by cutting government spending and fighting tax fraud. </span></span></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york';">After six months of implemented plans and ideas the managing director Dominque Strauss-Kahn of the International Monetary Fund had this to say about the steps being taken by Greek government:</span></span></div><div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york';"> “Much has been achieved in the six months since the program began, and more</span></span></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york';"> still needs to be done. Indeed, the next phase of structural reform is even more</span></span></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york';"> crucial to unlock the true potential of the Greek economy and the Greek people.”</span></span></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york';"> “This is a defining moment for Greece. While difficult challenges lie ahead, I am</span></span></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york';"> confident from my discussions here that the government and people are </span></span></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york';"> determined to do what it takes to ensure that Greece emerges from the crisis even</span></span></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york';"> stronger than before. I want to assure you that the IMF will do all we can to help</span></span></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york';"> Greece succeed.”</span></span></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york';">These positive anecdotes from Mr. Strauss-Kahn were taken from a press release on December 7 and 12, 2010 when asked about an update with the technical assistance that Greece was being provided by the IMF. Mr. Strauss-Kahn also said “we will work with our European partners on a solution to give Greece some further breathing room”. What this meant is that the International Monetary Fund is seeking cooperation from the European banks </span></span></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york';">The fourth austerity package was passed in June 2011 as the protests were still taking place after a year had passed. The protests led to strikes as well that called for a debate on whether or not to allow this new austerity package to be released upon the people of Greece. The measure on this new package would include:</span></span></div><ul><li><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Selling government property</span></span></div></li><li><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Raising money from private institutions</span></span></div></li><li><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Increasing taxes on income greater or equal to <span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">€8000</span></span></span></span></span></span></div></li><li><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Lower pension payments</span></span></div></li></ul><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Either way it passed and ended up gaining revenue of €1.9 billion, however the Greek government spent €2.7 billion. These packages were meant to prevent a sovereign default and something that is still trying to be avoided.</span></span></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york';"><span style="font-size: small;">In July of 2011 the European Union with its newly created European Financial Stability Facility was to apprehend its previous aid attempt and acknowledge it as insufficient. After acknowledging this they would move forward with the proposition of a second rescue package. This package now contained </span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">€100 billion. The repayment for this loan would be fifteen years with a low interest rate of 3.5% The EFSF was not acting on its own as it had help from the private sector of creditors that offered to purchase Greek bonds.</span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">With the looming Greek default on the horizon and before the final decision was made on this second aid package some considerations and planning was being made in order to avoid a domino effect. This required European banks to cooperate in their capitalization of loans to be 9% and of course the banks would comply as they would benefit. The finalized plan allowed Greece to cut their debt-to-GDP from 160%, rounded off, to 120% as well as receiving a bailout loan of €130 billion that required Greece to adhere to certain guidelines.</span></span></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york';"><span style="font-size: small;">This year of 2012 saw a number of changes that can set the precedence of what is to occur to Greece. The attempts made by the newly formed EFSF, IMF, and the EU can be commended for their efforts to not allow Greece to default. With this in mind the Greek government moved forward with a fifth austerity package for parliament to vote on in order to receive the </span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">€130 billion bailout</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york';"><span style="font-size: small;">. This package included the following:</span></span></span></span></span></span></div><ul><li><div align="LEFT" class="western">A 22% reduction for minimum wage</div></li><li><div align="LEFT" class="western">Holiday bonuses are canceled</div></li><li><div align="LEFT" class="western">Job cuts of 150,000 in the state sector in increments up to 2015</div></li><li><div align="LEFT" class="western">Pension cuts of <span style="color: black;">€300 million</span></div></li><li><div align="LEFT" class="western">Easier layoffs</div></li><li><div align="LEFT" class="western">Health and defense will see spending cuts</div></li></ul><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york';"><span style="font-size: small;">According to Kerin Hope a writer from </span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york';"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>The Financial Times</i></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york';"><span style="font-size: small;">“The latest round of austerity measures means Greece will likely face at least another year of recession, presaging another round of business closures, before the economy will start to grow again.” This package was approved by parliament on the 13 of February.</span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york';">According to Reuters “It is the world's biggest debt restructuring deal, affecting some </span></span></div><div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;">€</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">206 billion worth of bonds.” The Euro-group said in their statement “The creditors</span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">are invited to swap their current Greek bonds into new bonds with a maturity of </span></span></div><div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">between 11 and 30 years and lower average yields of 3.65% thus facilitating a €100</span></span></div><div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">billion debt reduction for Greece.”</span></span></div><div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york';">SYNTHESIS</span></span></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york';">In order to find a solution to the debt problem a macro-analysis of the policies in Europe and Greece need to be looked at in depth. The European Union and the International Monetary Fund will need to apply interest rates reduction and Greek tax optimization which will cause a positive effect on the gross domestic product of Greece. The following are some proposed solutions.</span></span></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york';"><span style="font-size: small;">The first focus for the future events as this is the month of election for Greece, is to focus on fighting tax evasion. The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development had estimation for the month of August in 2009 for the Greek black market. It was estimated that it was a </span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">€65 billion industry which meant that €20 billion went untaxed. Attempts to counter this have been taken in the past, but to no avail.</span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">There needs to be a more efficient system to collect these taxes. There also needs to be a more efficient police task force to enforce the new tax laws. This would include an investigation unit for taxes so that this facet of the government can function properly. </span></span></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">On top of this the corruption factor falls upon corruption. This topic refers to bribing. According to Transparency International Greece was ranked 49</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><sup><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">th</span></span></sup></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">place in 2004, moved down to 57</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><sup><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">th</span></span></sup></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">in 2008 and then fell to 71</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><sup><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">st</span></span></sup></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">in 2009. The bribery was estimated at €1 billion paid out to public establishments and officials to avoid laws, rules, and taxes. </span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york';">The Greek government presented fraudulent data to investors in the past as they issued bonds. In order to help this situation out it might be a good idea to let those bondholders lose face value by at least 50%. That is because the European Union and the European Central Bank did not purchase any Greek bonds and that might mean that the bailouts being presented to Greece will possibly return a profit for them. </span></span></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york';">Those bonds could then be moved into a special place by one of the financial institutions that are directly involved with Greece. The most prominent one is the European Central Bank. It could be called the PIIG Fund. It was already proposed that Greece would have until 2020 to fulfill their debt reduction to 27%. In the mean time their bonds should be stashed away in order to be monitored and to reduce the debt immediately. </span></span></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york';">In Greece there currently are protests and riots on a weekly basis due to the pension cuts and the benefits that were eliminated by the accepted austerity packages for Greek citizens who are unemployed as the businesses closed left and right. A solution to this might be to adopt an internal monetary supply of some sort exclusively for Greece. It could be considered a temporary system as the country restores itself via external manners from aid received by the IMF and the ECB as well the EFSF. This would allow citizens to purchase the goods and services they need. It would be ethical and viable although the government might not want to adopt this solution as the money newly adopted and implemented represents power and albeit they would not want to lose power. </span></span></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york';">Defaulting is not an option as it would cause the European Union and its economies to suffer greatly from the loans administered to Greece. Therefore the International Monetary Fund, the European Central Bank, the European Financial Stability Facility, and the European Union will strive at any cost to keep Greece from defaulting for self-interest. Due to the fact that French and German Financial Institutions hold the majority of the debt from Greece. With Germany being the most prominent country of this zone it is noted that anything will be done to keep Greece from defaulting. </span></span></div><div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york';">CONCLUSIONS</span></span></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york';">The outcome of the future for Greece is uncertain. However what can be said is that the European Union will do its best to prevent it from defaulting as it presents a nominal influx of loan repayment. Even if Greece did default, the fear is that of the domino effect. The other countries such as Ireland and Portugal are weaker countries in the Euro-zone and could not afford to borrow more money and will continue to need bail outs from the European Union and the International Monetary Fund.</span></span></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york';">However these institutions would not allow for these countries to follow suit. It would be for certain that these institutions, in the wake of Greece leaving the Euro-zone, dismissing the Euro as currency, and or defaulting. EU, ECB, and IMF would instantly administer extensions on their programs, there would be a reduction of interest rates.</span></span></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york';">The public response from the austerity packages presented by the Greek government were not well thought out. These spending cuts were swift and rigid on the economic growth. The austerity packages helped reduce the debt-to-GDP ratio. However the recession was only worsened as the spending cuts did not help the public citizens. It was almost as if these documents were written without consent of what was going to happen with the Greek citizens.</span></span></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york';">These events were the effects from the mismanagement of newly acquired loans to the purpose of gaining in self-interest. The public officials at the time would alter the numbers in the books and the spending that occurred did not have any promise to render profit. The corruption at the time allowed for the events to follow up to what is occurring today. The want for personal gain affected more than they bargained for. These actions led to an economic meltdown in the European region. </span></span></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york';">However there are new elections in which those running for political sides and parties are wanting to put an end to such acts or to at least minimize it some cases. The parliament of Greece has to choose between two possibilities. One side confirms that they will accept the bailout from the European Union and the International Monetary Fund and agree to its terms in order to receive them. The other side however is against the idea of receiving bailouts. </span></span></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york';"><span style="font-size: small;">The grand total for the debt Greece has to pay stands at </span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">€340 billion. In US dollars that it is $485 billion. Currently there are talks of having more debt being written off with an even larger bailout being paid out and Greece already received €349 billion in total from the bailouts up this point during the last two years.</span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">by Josue Solares </div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">BIBLIOGRAPHY</span></span></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Lynn, Mathew. </span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Bust:Greece, the Euro and the Sovereign Debt Crisis.</i></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Hoboken, NJ:</span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"> Bloomberg, 2011. Print.</span></span></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Manolopoulos, Jason. </span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Greece's 'odious' Debt: The Looting of the Hellenic Republic by the Euro,</i></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> the Political Elite and the Investment Community. </i></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">London: Anthem, 2011. Print.</span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Wonders, Grant. </span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>The Imminent Crisis: Greek Debt and the Collapse of the European </i></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> Monetary Union. </i></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Cambridge, MA: GW, 2010. Print</span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>The European Debt Crisis: Strategic Implications for the Transatlantic Alliance:</i></span></span></span></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> Hearing before the Subcommittee on European Affairs of the Committee on </i></span></span></span></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> Foreign Relations, United States Senate, One Hundred Twelfth Congress, First</i></span></span></span></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> Session, November 2, 2011.</i></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Washington: U.S. G.P.O., 2012. Print.</span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times;"><span style="font-size: small;">"Greece Debt Crisis: In Depth News, Comment and Analysis of the Greece Debt Crisis from the Financial Times."&nbsp;</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Greece Debt Crisis: In Depth News, Comment and Analysis of the Greece Debt Crisis from the Financial Times</i></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times;"><span style="font-size: small;">. Web. 14 May 2012. &lt;http://www.ft.com/indepth/greece-debt-crisis&gt;.</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times;"><span style="font-size: small;">"Macroeconomic Issues."&nbsp;</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>The Economic Times</i></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times;"><span style="font-size: small;">. Web. 14 May 2012. &lt;http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/topic/macroeconomic-issues&gt;.</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times;"><span style="font-size: small;">"European Debt Crisis: Greece Debt: Who Loaned the Money?"&nbsp;</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Demonocracy.info</i></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times;"><span style="font-size: small;">. Web. 14 May 2012. &lt;http://demonocracy.info/infographics/eu/debt_greek/debt_greek.html&gt;.</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times;"><span style="font-size: small;">"Greece GDP Data &amp; Country Report | Global Finance."&nbsp;</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Greece GDP Data &amp; Country Report | Global Finance</i></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times;"><span style="font-size: small;">. Web. 14 May 2012. &lt;http://www.gfmag.com/gdp-data-country-reports/266-greece-gdp-country-report.html&gt;.</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times;"><span style="font-size: small;">"Q&amp;A: Greek Debt Crisis."&nbsp;</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>BBC News</i></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times;"><span style="font-size: small;">. BBC, 05 Dec. 2012. Web. 14 May 2012. &lt;http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-13798000&gt;.</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times;"><span style="font-size: small;">"IMF and Greece Fast Facts."&nbsp;</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>IMF and Greece Fast Facts</i></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times;"><span style="font-size: small;">. Web. 14 May 2012. &lt;http://www.imf.org/external/np/exr/countryfacts/grc/&gt;.</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times;"><span style="font-size: small;">Institution, Douglas J. Elliott Is a Fellow in Economic Studies at the Brookings. "Europe's Rising Risks from Greece."&nbsp;</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>CNNMoney</i></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times;"><span style="font-size: small;">. Cable News Network, 11 May 2012. Web. 14 May 2012. &lt;http://money.cnn.com/2012/05/11/markets/europe-greece-risk/index.htm?iid=HP_LN&gt;.</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times;"><span style="font-size: small;">Taylor, Paul, and Paul Carrel. "Euro Ministers Upbeat on Greece, Crisis Solution."&nbsp;</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Reuters</i></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times;"><span style="font-size: small;">. Thomson Reuters, 27 Jan. 2012. Web. 14 May 2012. &lt;http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/01/27/us-eurozone-davos-idUSTRE80Q0N820120127&gt;.</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>Josue Solareshttps://plus.google.com/115166984264195779307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3015134714975423700.post-13512388731385056612012-06-10T14:12:00.002-07:002012-06-10T14:12:36.296-07:00A Quick Study of DyslexiaA Quick Study of Dyslexia by Jonathan Solares<br />Interesting fact, unlike most misconceptions about Dyslexia IT IS NOT A DISORDER OR DISEASE! it is a thinking process apparent in many&nbsp;people. People with Dyslexia generally have a very great understanding of 3dimensional objects and abstract reasoning and generally&nbsp;have an exceptional talent or display of skill in 1 or more areas of expertise as generally they try and give more effort than others. Therefore they excel in their skill of expertise as they give up to ten times more effort achieving to learn and understand the concepts.<br /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 32px; text-indent: -48px;">Board, A.D.A.M. Editorial. "Causes, Incidence, and Risk Factors."&nbsp;</span><i style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 32px; margin: 0px; text-indent: -48px;">Developmental Reading Disorder</i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 32px; text-indent: -48px;">. U.S. National Library of Medicine, 18 Nov. 0000. Web. 10 June 2012. &lt;http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0002379/&gt;.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 32px; text-indent: -48px;">"The International Dyslexia Association Promoting Literacy through Research, Education and Advocacy."&nbsp;</span><i style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 32px; margin: 0px; text-indent: -48px;">The International Dyslexia Association Promoting Literacy through Research, Education and Advocacy</i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 32px; text-indent: -48px;">. The International Dyslexia Association. Web. 10 June 2012. &lt;http://www.interdys.org/&gt;.</span><br /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 32px; text-indent: -48px;">"What Is Dyslexia?"&nbsp;</span><i style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 32px; margin: 0px; text-indent: -48px;">What Is Dyslexia?</i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 32px; text-indent: -48px;">&nbsp;National Center For Learning Disabilities. Web. 10 June 2012. &lt;http://www.ncld.org/ld-basics/ld-aamp-language/reading/dyslexia&gt;.</span>Jonathan Solareshttps://plus.google.com/114063384081761230637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3015134714975423700.post-75637468255017052022012-06-07T13:37:00.005-07:002012-06-07T13:37:50.485-07:00Gender Roles in the Economic World<br /><div style="line-height: 200%; text-align: center;"><b>Gender Roles in the Economic World</b></div><div style="line-height: 200%; text-align: center;"><b>By Jonathan Solares</b></div><div style="line-height: 200%;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Throughout the history of mankind the roles of gender have changed and evolved. In the ever changing world we live in, the income and roles played within a work environment have changed since the generations of x, y, baby boomers, and millennium. Due to many movements and organizations there have been changes to how the way women are treated and paid in the work environment.</div><div style="line-height: 200%;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; One of the major changes of the past couple decades has been that of a woman's position in that society, prestige, and working environment. The gender roles a woman plays in a working environment and how they are treated have been fought in many courts and protested by many movements, though most of these have been successful some have not. Although we live in a now very open and liberal world women are still not viewed as equals in the work environment, although the difference in pay is much less than before. The positions women can take are much wider than say in the 70's.</div><div style="line-height: 200%;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; An interesting example of positions a woman can take in a work place is that of a nurse which used to be a purely male position of labor before The United States Civil War and then a rise in female nurses increased to the point that it became a female dominated position of labor. This was until more modern times where ironically history has begun to repeat in that there has been a steady rise in amount of males in the position of being a nurse. In present times almost any position of the labor force that is available to a man is also now available to a woman.</div><div style="line-height: 200%;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The percentage of women in the workforce has also increased considerably from the 1950's. The Bureau of Labor Statistics states "In 1950 about one in three women participated in the labor force. By 1998, nearly three of every five women of working age were in the labor force. Among women age 16 and over, the labor force participation rate was 33.9 percent in 1950, compared with 59.8 percent in 1998." The Bureau also goes to state "As more women are added to the labor force, their share will approach that of men. In 2008, women will make up about 48 percent of the labor force and men 52 percent. In 1988, the respective shares were 45 and 55 percent." The present amount of difference in weekly wages varies due to race, ethnicity and age though the difference between wages is between 100-500 USD. Women are paid 80% of their male counterparts, a 20% difference. This compared with the percentage it used to be before the 80’s are very much considerable. Even with the Equal Pay Act of 1963 there is still a considerable difference in pay though not as much as there used to be. &nbsp;These rights for equal wages have been fought since before the sixties and are apparent that it will be fought for many more years to come until there is true equality between sexes.</div><div style="line-height: 200%;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The way a woman is treated in the work environment. This subject is sometimes a touchy subject with certain people. This is due to many people having different opinions on gender roles in society and the work environment. It is due to varying age differences, and liberal standing within a work environment. Even though our civilization has become more liberal there are still many prejudices that people have not just accepted that deal with ethnicity, but also with gender and roles that each gender should play in not only a work enviornment but also in marriage and family.</div><div style="line-height: 200%;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; There are still many people who believe in the old idea that women should not work and instead it should be solely the male who should be the bread winner of the family. Then there are those who believe a woman should be able to fend for herself and should make a name for them. There are mixes of the two also. However, in past times women weren’t even allowed to work or even speak their mind. Also before almost all of society would consider less than human they were degraded and not even allowed to talk in social groupings. Things began to change after the Dark ages women started to become more liberal. By the time after United States Civil War it had begun to become common to see women in the work environment. Then beginning in the 60's there began movements for more equal rights for women.</div><div style="line-height: 200%;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Movements in the 50's that had led to the anti discrimination and equal rights laws, had affected the mindset of the world. These movements started by people such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X affected the laws of discrimination and laws of equal rights. Not only did the movments in the 50's change a large portion of peoples perception of race and ethniticity but also that of gender. This paved the way for the Feminist and Equal Rights movements of the following decades. These movements paved the way for women to have the ability to vote and serve in carious positions of government that were unavaliable in past times. Eventually more rights have been given to women, women are not viewed as less human because of being a female, and gender is now less discriminated against, though some laws and rights are still being fought. Sexisim has decreseaed in a large percentage in the past century and we will continue to see widespread changes in this aspect for many years and possibly decades to come.</div><div style="line-height: 200%;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; From what we have seen and noticed in history the way women are seen has changed considerably from before. Though still not viewed as equals there has been much change in the view people have of women, their social position, their rights and legal status. This will continue to evolve as the view of both genders will continue to change and as will the equality of rights and laws of not only race and ethnicity, but also that of gender. The inequality in the labor force will also change hopefully for the better.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p><span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">Bolzendahl, C.L., &amp; Meyers, D. J. (2004). Feminist attitudes and support for gender equality:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;TimesNewRomanPSMT&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">Opinion change in women and men, 1974-1998. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;TimesNewRomanPSMT&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">Leeder, E. (2004). </span><i><span style="font-family: &quot;TimesNewRomanPS-ItalicMT&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPS-ItalicMT;">The family in global perspective: A gendered journey. </span></i><span style="font-family: &quot;TimesNewRomanPSMT&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;TimesNewRomanPSMT&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">Lockhart, W. H. (2000). “We are one life,” but not of one gender ideology: Unity, ambiguity, and the promise keepers. </span><i><span style="font-family: &quot;TimesNewRomanPS-ItalicMT&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPS-ItalicMT;">Sociology of Religion<o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;TimesNewRomanPSMT&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">Treckel, P. (1995). Forging the thunderbolts: Elizabeth Cady Stanton and American feminism. </span><i><span style="font-family: &quot;TimesNewRomanPS-ItalicMT&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPS-ItalicMT;">Gifts of Speech. Professor of History. Allegheny College., Chautauqua Institution: </span></i><span style="font-family: &quot;TimesNewRomanPSMT&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">July 28, 1995. retrieved November 25, 2006.http://gos.sbc.edu/t/treckel.html<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;TimesNewRomanPSMT&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">White, J.M., and Klein, D.M. (2002). </span><i><span style="font-family: &quot;TimesNewRomanPS-ItalicMT&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPS-ItalicMT;">Family theories: Understanding families</span></i><span style="font-family: &quot;TimesNewRomanPSMT&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="citation"><em>The Purdue OWL Family of Sites</em>. The Writing Lab and OWL at Purdue and Purdue U, 2008. Web. 20 Oct. 2011.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family: &quot;TimesNewRomanPSMT&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">United States Department of Labor.</span></i><span style="font-family: &quot;TimesNewRomanPSMT&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"> Bureau of Labor Statistics February 16, 2000 </span><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">(<em>The Editor’s Desk</em> is updated each business day.) Web. 19-22 Oct. 2011</span><i><o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div>Jonathan Solareshttps://plus.google.com/114063384081761230637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3015134714975423700.post-45458433435896022692012-06-06T16:00:00.002-07:002012-06-06T16:22:32.832-07:00Women’s Treatment in the Country of Iraq<br /><div align="CENTER" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Women’s Treatment in the Country of Iraq</b></span></span></div><div align="CENTER" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>by</b></span></span></div><div align="CENTER" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Jonathan Solares</b></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">By exploring the role of government and religion in Iraq, the observation of how women are treated will be studied. The way government and religion both deal hand in hand in the discrimination, aggression, and horrible treatment will be explored. Sexism and anti-feminism is still very much alive in the country of Iraq. This is due mostly to the religion of which the government upholds in high standard.</span></div><div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">The Government is currently adopting its new democratic standing of which is based upon the United States Government, there is however much room for improvement in terms of laws, the legislative, and the judicial branch. The government however has more power over the people than the U.S. in terms of being able to pass a law without the peoples consent. </span></div><div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">For a long period of time the aggression and discrimination toward women in Iraq has been constant. This has led to an extended period of time that Women have had little to no rights in the country. Due to this many women had protested and been silenced for their request for equal rights. When there is still cause for women from various countries to fight for change from the government and change of the laws regarding women and their rights, there is viable need for a revision to the legislative branch of the new democratic nation. </span></div><div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">The government policies play a part in the discrimination and aggression toward women. “Reform is also needed in providing practical help for women. An example of such help is shelters,In Iraq there are no regulations or legislation mandating shelters” This is caused by there not being gender equality.</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Even though there is now a freedom of religion law and practice in the country of Iraq the majority religion is still Islam of which 97% of the population practice. It is apparent that the government laws and the way officials, and civil workers in Iraq act, influence the way women are treated, however the biggest influence is what 97% of the population practice, the religion of Islam.</span></div><div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">In the Quran there are many texts that state the superiority of men above women. There are texts in the Quran that state that women are inferior to men and should be treated as such. There are laws decreed in the Quran that you are supposed to discriminate your wife. It is a horrifying fact that there are texts in the Quran that state that if you do not like your wife you may beat her.</span></div><div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Here are the direct texts from the Quran</span></div><div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Qur’an-4:34 “Men have the authority over women because Allah has made the one superior to the other, and because they spend their wealth to maintain them. Good women are obedient.”</span></div><div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Qur’an-4:34 “As for those from whom you fear disobedience, admonish them and send them to their beds apart (stop having sexual relation with them), and scourge them.”</span></div><div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /> The practice of men being superior to women is one of the biggest reasons for the sexism in this country. The religion of Islam, due to its deep rooted history with the culture of the Iraqi, and because of its statements of women being inferior has greatly influenced the degrading treatment of women. The superiority complex that is presented in the culture of Iraq is a difficult one to address because it spawns from its religious beliefs. For the UN, the United States and neighboring countries want to instill democracy in this country and democracy allows for freedom of religion, but it also supports rights for equality for men and women which can bring some conflicts between the government and the religion of this region. </span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">The Religion of Islam due to being so upheld at a high standard, in the same manner as Christianity here in the US, the laws that the Quran state are practiced and many times enforced by the government itself leading the way for violet aggression and discrimination toward women.</span></div><div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">It is apparent that the real cause of such a widespread discrimination and aggression toward women is caused not only by the upbringing and culture but also due to mostly to the religion. The government upholds this religion as the main religion due to 97% of the population practicing it. Until more laws against discrimination of women are upheld and more diversity of religion is allowed there will not be a change.</span></div><div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></div><div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></div><div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></div><div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></div><div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></div><div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></div><div align="CENTER" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><u><b>Sources List:</b></u></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Spielvogel, Jackson J.</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">&nbsp;</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>World History: Modern times</i></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">. New York: Glencoe//McGraw-Hill, 2010. Print.</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Dispatch, Tom. "The Hidden War on Women in Iraq."</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">&nbsp;</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>The Hidden War on Women in Iraq</i></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">. Common Dreams, 2007. Web. 31 May 2012. &lt;http://www.commondreams.org/views06/0713-33.htm&gt;.</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">IIAU. "UNIS."</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">&nbsp;</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>UNIS</i></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">. United Nations Information Service, 13 Jan. 2010. Web. 31 May 2012. &lt;http://www.unis.unvienna.org/&gt;.</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">NPR. "Status of Women in Iraq, Part 1: Baghdad."</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">&nbsp;</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>NPR</i></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">. NPR, 13 June 2004. Web. 31 May 2012. &lt;http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=3375003&gt;.</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">The US Government. "Iraq's Permanent Constitution - USCIRF."</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">&nbsp;</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Iraq's Permanent Constitution - USCIRF</i></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">. The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, 2006. Web. 03 June 2012. &lt;http://www.uscirf.gov/reports-and-briefs/special-reports/1888-iraqs-permanent-constitution.html&gt;.</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Iilhr. "Our Programs."</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">&nbsp;</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Institute for International Law and Human Rights</i></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">. Institute for International Law and Human Rights, 2011. Web. 31 May 2012. &lt;http://iilhr.org/&gt;.</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">The US Government. "Iraq."</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">&nbsp;</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>U.S. Department of State</i></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">. U.S. Department of State. Web. 03 June 2012. &lt;http://www.state.gov/j/drl/rls/irf/2003/24452.htm&gt;.</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">ProCon. "Ethnic and Religious Groups In Iraq - US - Iraq War - ProCon.org."</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">&nbsp;</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Ethnic and Religious Groups In Iraq - US - Iraq War - ProCon.org</i></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">. ProCon. Web. 03 June 2012. &lt;http://usiraq.procon.org/view.additional-resource.php?resourceID=000991&gt;.</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">"Islamic Laws for Women."</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">&nbsp;</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Islamic Laws for Women</i></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">. Web. 04 June 2012. &lt;http://debate.org.uk/topics/coolcalm/women.html&gt;.</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Arlandson, James M. "Women Are Inferior to Men in the Quran."</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">&nbsp;</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Women Are Inferior to Men in the Quran</i></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">. Web. 04 June 2012. &lt;http://www.answering-islam.org/Authors/Arlandson/women_inferior.htm&gt;.</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></div>Jonathan Solareshttps://plus.google.com/114063384081761230637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3015134714975423700.post-38733014918915725192012-06-06T14:45:00.004-07:002012-06-06T14:45:41.057-07:00The Children Start to March: Music throughout The Cold War and How it shaped the time<br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b>The Children Start to March!</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b>By Jonathan Solares</b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal">The events transpiring during the period gave way to many songs that were politically charged toward non-violent civil disobedience and also revolution that needed to transpire and also protests of the Vietnam War. The 1960-2000’s was a period of tension, resistance against the governments of the world, uprisings and revolts, unjustified mass killings, uncalled for shootings of protestors and unjust wars.</div><div class="MsoNormal">Songs in the realm of War Pigs[1970], Children of the Grave[1971] (Both by the first Metal band Black Sabbath) are songs that support the view of both the main singer and guitarist at the time which was that with non violent uprising the people themselves can create a difference.</div><div class="MsoNormal">Such as this excerpt from the song Children of the Grave which gives the sense of the period in such a way that it sometimes gives chills, the feeling of wanting change so badly that even the Children of the World began to protest and March against the governments in order to procure change.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333;">Revolution in their minds</span><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br /><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">The children start to march</span><br /><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">Against the world in which they have to live</span><br /><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">And all the hate that's in their hearts</span><br /><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">They're tired of being pushed around</span><br /><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">And told just what to do</span><br /><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">They'll fight the world until they've won</span><br /><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">And love comes flowing through.</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal">Another protest song which was and in some cases is still considered a rant of politically charged lines is that of the song of “London Calling” (released 1979) by the punk rock band the Clash. It presents issues ranging from the fear of the Nuclear race and what it might lead to in the future to the way their government was acting toward events occurring at the time. As the line “London is drowning I, and I live by the river” states, they felt their city being demolished and there was nothing they could do about it. An interesting fact about the punk rock movement is that it helped paved the way toward the fall of the Berlin Wall. </div><div class="MsoNormal">Sunday Bloody Sunday, by the political rock band U2 is a song that is a charged political protest song. Being about the actual event of Sunday Bloody Sunday (1972) in which the British Army fired upon civil rights protests and bystanders. The song carefully and with great emotion presents the feelings and effects felt by the family of the victims and the appall the people felt toward the British Government for committing such an unjustified action toward a peaceful protest. The way the band themselves is felt the most with the lines</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">I can't believe the news today</span><br /><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">Oh, I can't close my eyes and make it go away</span><br /><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">How long, how long must we sing this song?</span><br /></span><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="background-color: white;">How long? How long?</span><span style="background-color: #b8bcad;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal">And as a way to wrap up the series of songs I present the power ballad by the heavy metal band The Scorpions “Winds of Change”. This song to me best exemplifies the end of The End of The Cold War and the way the majority of the people felt. Along with the fall of the Berlin Wall it celebrates the Perestroika which was the movement of reform in the USSR. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">The world is closing in</span><br /><span style="background: white;">Did you ever think</span><br /><span style="background: white;">That we could be so close, like brothers</span><br /><span style="background: white;">The future's in the air</span><br /><span style="background: white;">I can feel it everywhere</span><br /><span style="background: white;">Blowing with the wind of change</span><br /><br /><span style="background: white;">Take me to the magic of the moment</span><br /><span style="background: white;">On a glory night</span><br /><span style="background: white;">Where the children of tomorrow dream away</span><br /><span style="background: white;">In the wind of change<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal">These lyrics present the feeling of such happiness that the Cold War had ended and that the Berlin Wall, which had separated the people of Germany, had finally fallen. The line “Did you ever think that we could be so close, like brothers!” presents the closeness of the German peoples after the country began its reunification. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">It is apparent that music, for most of the last and century has played a vital role in the society of the world we live in. It has helped to present and protest issues, enforce opinions or refute them, and unify peoples of different origins. Though there is still meaningful music today it is not presented in a mainstream light anymore as the media and record companies do not want the people to have fear any more but want to present music that will keep the population happy and not worried about the current events occurring around the world that can still be considered horrific beyond belief. There are still bands that protest and speak about events or issues that are currently happening that have made it into the mainstream, bands such as Muse, System of a Down, U2, many punk bands, and some metal bands still address issues of importance. There will however always be music that is for “fun and parting” and then there will be true and raw music that addresses these issues even though it might not always see the light of day or the mainstream.&nbsp;</div><br />Jonathan Solareshttps://plus.google.com/114063384081761230637noreply@blogger.com0